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Figure 1. Conceptual model of bluefish seasonal migrations.
Figure 2. Total annual recreational sales from Atlantic coastal states over 2014-2018 in billions of 2020 constant U.S. Dollars. Data obtained from the Fisheries Economics of the United States Reports (2014-2018). Values were adjusted using the Gross Domestic Product Implicit Price Deflator.
Figure 3. Total annual recreational sales by Atlantic Coastal state from 2014-2018 in millions of 2020 constant U.S. Dollars. Data obtained from the Fisheries Economics of the United States. Values were adjusted using the Gross Domestic Product Implicit Price Deflator.
Figure 4. Recreational bluefish catch from Atlantic Coastal states over 2010-2021. Data acquired from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) query tool in January 2022.
Figure 5. Recreational bluefish catch box plots from 2010-2021 by Atlantic coastal states. Data retrieved from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) query tool in January 2022.
Figure 6. Number of directed recreational bluefish trips from Atlantic coastal states (2010-2021). Data retrieved from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) query tool in January 2022.
Figure 7. Proportion of regional recreational bluefish catch in number of fish by fishing mode (2010-2021). Data retrieved from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) query tool in January 2022.
Figure 8. Proportion of total recreational bluefish catch by month grouping and region (2010-2021). Data retrieved from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) query tool in January 2022
Figure 9. Recreational bluefish catch as a percent of total recreational catch by region over 2010-2021. Data retrieved from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) query tool in January 2022.
Figure 10. Box plots of recreational bluefish catch as a percent of total recreational catch by sate over 2010-2021. Data source: Data retrieved from the Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) query tool in January 2022. Conneticut has the hightes percent of bluefish catch relative to other species and New Hampshire the lowest.
Figure 11. Bluefish diet by decade (all regions and bluefish sizes) from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) bottom trawl survey, 1973-2020.
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Figure 16. Map of bluefish egg distribution in the Northwest Atlantic, as collected in the Marine Resources Monitoring, Assessment and Prediction (MARMAP) program (1977-1987) and inthe Ecosystem Monitoring (EcoMon) program (1993 only). No eggs were collected in January through April or September through December.
| MONTH | n_tows | n_positive_tow | total_n | n_per_tow | n_years | n_positive_years | mean_surface_temp | n_temp | mean_surface_sal | n_sal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1681 | 2 | 876.0 | 0.5 | 12 | 2 | 19.9 | 876.0 | 35.3 | 2.5 |
| 6 | 996 | 28 | 1636.4 | 1.6 | 10 | 4 | 20.4 | 1636.4 | 31.6 | 551.3 |
| 7 | 966 | 132 | 10321.3 | 10.7 | 11 | 8 | 21.5 | 10321.3 | 31.0 | 3016.7 |
| 8 | 1183 | 53 | 3095.6 | 2.6 | 11 | 8 | 24.4 | 3095.6 | 32.6 | 32.3 |
Figure 17. Map of bluefish larvae distribution in the Northwest Atlantic, as collected in the Herring and Sand Lance Program (1988-1994), Georges Bank Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics (1995-1999), MARMAP (1977-1987), and EcoMon (1992 – present). No larvae were collected in February or March, or October through December. There was one positive tow in January (not shown).
| MONTH | n_tows | n_positive_tow | total_n | n_per_tow | n_years | n_positive_years | mean_surface_temp | n_temp | mean_surface_sal | n_sal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1789 | 1 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 26 | 1 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| 4 | 3266 | 13 | 260.3 | 0.1 | 44 | 1 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| 5 | 3477 | 105 | 11913.1 | 3.4 | 38 | 11 | 21.9 | 10285.5 | 31.1 | 10285.5 |
| 6 | 3083 | 218 | 15961.1 | 5.2 | 34 | 17 | 22.3 | 9463.1 | 31.0 | 9919.8 |
| 7 | 1430 | 1010 | 46984.9 | 32.9 | 21 | 17 | 23.3 | 5376.5 | 31.7 | 5376.5 |
| 8 | 3011 | 915 | 18413.0 | 6.1 | 31 | 27 | 24.5 | 7522.9 | 31.6 | 7520.7 |
| 9 | 2210 | 96 | 631.5 | 0.3 | 43 | 19 | 23.8 | 564.1 | 32.2 | 564.1 |
Figure 18. Mean proportion of coastwide catch, mean state catch (lbs), standardized CPUE, and unstandardized CPUE for Northeast states in March through December.
Figure 19. Mean proportion of coastwide catch, mean state catch (lbs), standardized CPUE, and unstandardized CPUE for Mid Atlantic states in March through December.
Figure 20. Mean proportion of coastwide catch, mean state catch (lbs), standardized CPUE, and unstandardized CPUE for Southeast states in January through December.
Figure 21. Map of small (<=30.3cm) bluefish distribution in the Northwest Atlantic, as collected in the NMFS bottom trawl survey, which has sampled most years since 1963.
Figure 22. Map of medium (30.3-50.0cm) bluefish distribution in the Northwest Atlantic, as collected in the NMFS bottom trawl survey, which has sampled most years since 1963.
Figure 23. Map of large (>50.0cm) bluefish distribution in the Northwest Atlantic, as collected in the NMFS bottom trawl survey, which has sampled most years since 1963.
| MONTH | n_tows | total_n | n_per_tow | mean_surface_temp | n_temp | mean_surface_sal | n_sal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2381 | 2 | 0.0 | 13.9 | 2 | 35.2 | 2 |
| 3 | 8746 | 987 | 0.1 | 11.7 | 980 | 32.9 | 518 |
| 4 | 8252 | 200 | 0.0 | 17.0 | 198 | 35.1 | 94 |
| 5 | 1803 | 18 | 0.0 | 18.6 | 18 | NA | NA |
| 6 | 123 | 18 | 0.1 | 19.9 | 18 | NA | NA |
| 7 | 959 | 840 | 0.9 | 26.4 | 724 | NA | NA |
| 8 | 1366 | 1418 | 1.0 | 24.0 | 1345 | NA | NA |
| 9 | 7066 | 62129 | 8.8 | 21.5 | 50962 | 30.9 | 25825 |
| 10 | 8974 | 15643 | 1.7 | 18.8 | 12862 | 30.8 | 3667 |
| 11 | 3512 | 787 | 0.2 | 18.4 | 786 | 31.9 | 2 |
| 12 | 243 | 6 | 0.0 | 14.4 | 6 | NA | NA |
| MONTH | n_tows | total_n | n_per_tow | mean_surface_temp | n_temp | mean_surface_sal | n_sal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2381 | 86 | 0.0 | 10.3 | 79 | 33.9 | 78 |
| 3 | 8746 | 642 | 0.1 | 11.7 | 493 | 34.4 | 386 |
| 4 | 8252 | 76 | 0.0 | 8.5 | 75 | 33.7 | 75 |
| 5 | 1803 | 1 | 0.0 | 8.4 | 1 | 32.7 | 1 |
| 7 | 959 | 23 | 0.0 | 25.9 | 21 | NA | NA |
| 8 | 1366 | 34 | 0.0 | 22.2 | 28 | NA | NA |
| 9 | 7066 | 2728 | 0.4 | 21.5 | 2364 | 31.1 | 1594 |
| 10 | 8974 | 836 | 0.1 | 18.1 | 711 | 31.7 | 206 |
| 11 | 3512 | 76 | 0.0 | 18.9 | 76 | NA | NA |
| MONTH | n_tows | total_n | n_per_tow | mean_surface_temp | n_temp | mean_surface_sal | n_sal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2381 | 62 | 0.0 | 10.2 | 61 | 33.7 | 59 |
| 3 | 8746 | 264 | 0.0 | 11.3 | 184 | 34.6 | 137 |
| 4 | 8252 | 29 | 0.0 | 10.3 | 27 | 33.8 | 23 |
| 5 | 1803 | 2 | 0.0 | 18.8 | 2 | NA | NA |
| 6 | 123 | 1 | 0.0 | 21.5 | 1 | NA | NA |
| 7 | 959 | 59 | 0.1 | 17.6 | 58 | NA | NA |
| 8 | 1366 | 70 | 0.1 | 17.2 | 70 | NA | NA |
| 9 | 7066 | 908 | 0.1 | 18.8 | 703 | 31.9 | 496 |
| 10 | 8974 | 1733 | 0.2 | 15.6 | 1507 | 32.2 | 718 |
| 11 | 3512 | 66 | 0.0 | 15.4 | 62 | NA | NA |
Figure 24. Summary of months when bluefish <15cm and between 15-30.3cm have been found in all coastal Atlantic states and in federal surveys. Bluefish are marked as observed if the month had more than 20 fish observed over 3 or more years.
Figure 25. Length distributions of bluefish under 30.3cm by month in the New Hampshire Juvenile Finfish Survey. Only years with more than 20 fish collected are shown.
Figure 26. Length distributions of bluefish under 30.3cm by month in the New York Peconic Bay Small Mesh Survey. Years with more than 20 fish collected are shown. Bimodal cohort length peaks are visible in 1993, 2000, 2001, and 2006.
Figure 27. Length distributions of bluefish under 30.3cm by month in the New York Western Long Island Seine Survey. Years with more than 20 fish collected are shown. Bimodal cohort length peaks are visible in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020.
Figure 28. Length distributions of bluefish under 30.3cm by month in the South Carolina DNR Coastal Trawl samples taken in North Carolina. Years with more than 20 fish collected are shown. Bimodal cohort length peaks are visible in North Carolina in 2002 and 2005.
Figure 29. Length distributions of bluefish under 30.3cm by month in the NEAMAP survey. Years with more than 20 fish collected are shown. Bimodal cohort length peaks are visible in several years in some states.
Figure 30. Length distributions of bluefish under 30.3cm by month in the NMFS bottom trawl fall survey. Years with more than 20 fish collected are shown. Bimodal cohort length peaks are visible in several years, including 1990, 1995, 2001, and 2006. Note, after 2008, inshore strata were no longer sampled in the NMFS survey, and were instead sampled in the NEAMAP survey.
Figure 31. Life history conceptual model of bluefish.
Figure 32. Map of the Central Atlantic region used in calculating spatially averaged indicators.
Figure 33. Selected ecosystem indicators for bluefish with time series ranging from 1991 - present: (a) center of gravity (northings, km) of small (<=30.3cm), (b) medium (30.3-50.0cm), and (c) large (>=50.0cm) bluefish as modeled by VAST. Upper and lower solid green horizontal lines are plus and minus one standard deviation of the time series mean. Dotted green horizontal line is the mean of the time series.
Figure 34. Selected ecosystem indicators for bluefish with time series ranging from 1991 - present: (a) center of gravity (eastings, km) of small (<=30.3cm), (b) medium (30.3-50.0cm), and (c) large (>=50.0cm) bluefish as modeled by VAST. Upper and lower solid green horizontal lines are plus and minus one standard deviation of the time series mean. Dotted green horizontal line is the mean of the time series.
Figure 35. Selected ecosystem indicators for bluefish with time series ranging from 1985 - present: (a) first day of the year when the mean temperature of the central Atlantic region is warmer than 18C, (b) last day of the year when the mean temperature of the central Atlantic is warmer than 18C, and (c) number of days when at least 75% of the central Atlantic region is warmer than 18C. Upper and lower solid green horizontal lines are plus and minus one standard deviation of the time series mean. Dotted green horizontal line is the mean of the time series.
Figure 36. Selected ecosystem indicators for bluefish with time series ranging from 1985 - present: (a) proportion of the central Atlantic colder than 18C in July, (b) proportion of the central Atlantic between 18-25.6C in July, and (c) proportion of the central Atlantic warmer than 15.6C in July. Upper and lower solid green horizontal lines are plus and minus one standard deviation of the time series mean. Dotted green horizontal line is the mean of the time series.
Figure 37. Selected ecosystem indicators for bluefish with time series ranging from 1985 - present: (a) mean crossshore wind in the central Atlantic in April and May, and (b) mean alongshore wind in the central Atlantic in April and May. Upper and lower solid green horizontal lines are plus and minus one standard deviation of the time series mean. Dotted green horizontal line is the mean of the time series.
Figure 38. Selected ecosystem indicators for bluefish with time series ranging from 1985 - present: (a) spring condition of large (>=50.0cm) bluefish, (b) fall condition of large (>=50.0cm) bluefish, (c) spring condition of medium (30.3-50.0cm) bluefish, and (d) fall condition of medium (30.3-50.0cm) bluefish. Upper and lower solid green horizontal lines are plus and minus one standard deviation of the time series mean. Dotted green horizontal line is the mean of the time series.
Figure 39. Selected ecosystem indicators for bluefish with time series ranging from 1985 - present: (a) spring condition of small (<=30.3cm) bluefish, (b) fall condition of small (<=30.3cm) bluefish, and (c) shortfin mako shark B/Bmsy in the North Atlantic. Upper and lower solid green horizontal lines are plus and minus one standard deviation of the time series mean. Dotted green horizontal line is the mean of the time series.
Figure 40. Selected socioeconomic indicators for bluefish with time series ranging from 1985 - present: (a) number of directed recreational bluefish trips from, (b) proportion of directed recreational bluefish trips relative to other directed trip, (c) total recreational bluefish catch in number of fish, (d) total recreational bluefish landings (lbs). Upper and lower solid green horizontal lines are plus and minus one standard deviation of the time series mean. Dotted green horizontal line is the mean of the time series.
Figure 41. Selected socioeconomic indicators for bluefish with time series ranging from 2000 - present: (a) number of commercial vessels landing bluefish, (b) commercial bluefish landings (lbs.), (c) ex-vessel bluefish prices (2021 constant U.S. dollars per lb), (d) total annual commercial bluefish revenue in 2021 constant U.S. dollars, and (e) average annual ultra-low-sulfur number 2 diesel fuel prices (2021 constant U.S. dollars) from 2007-2021. Upper and lower solid green horizontal lines are plus and minus one standard deviation of the time series mean. Dotted green horizontal line is the mean of the time series.
Figure 42. Selected socioeconomic indicators for bluefish with time series ranging from 2009-2019: (a) average annual recreational engagement scores for the Northeast region, (b) average annual recreational engagement scores for the Mid-Atlantic region, and (c) average annual recreational engagement scores for the Southeast region. Upper and lower solid green horizontal lines are plus and minus one standard deviation of the time series mean. Dotted green horizontal line is the mean of the time series.
Figure 43. Selected socioeconomic indicators for bluefish with time series ranging from 2009-2019: (a) average annual recreational reliance scores for the Northeast region, (b) average annual recreational reliancescores for the Mid-Atlantic region, and (c) average annual recreational reliancescores for the Southeast region. Upper and lower solid green horizontal lines are plus and minus one standard deviation of the time series mean. Dotted green horizontal line is the mean of the time series.
Indicator category | Indicator | 2017 Status | 2018 Status | 2019 Status | 2020 Status | 2021 Status |
Distribution | Fall center of gravity of small (<=30.3cm) bluefish (northings, km) | neutral | high | high | neutral | neutral |
Distribution | Fall center of gravity of medium (30.3-50.0cm) bluefish (northings, km) | neutral | high | high | neutral | high |
Distribution | Fall center of gravity of large (>=50.0cm) bluefish (northings, km) | neutral | high | neutral | neutral | high |
Distribution | Fall center of gravity of small (<=30.3cm) bluefish (eastings km) | neutral | high | neutral | neutral | high |
Distribution | Fall center of gravity of medium (30.3-50.0cm) bluefish (eastings km) | neutral | neutral | high | neutral | high |
Distribution | Fall center of gravity of large (>=50.0cm) bluefish (eastings km) | neutral | neutral | high | neutral | high |
Climate | First day of the year when the mean temperature of the central Atlantic region is warmer than 18C | neutral | neutral | neutral | neutral | low |
Climate | Last day of the year when the mean temperature of the central Atlantic region is warmer than 18C | high | neutral | neutral | high | high |
Climate | Number of days when at least 75% of the central Atlantic region is warmer than 18C | high | neutral | neutral | neutral | high |
Climate | Proportion of the central Atlantic colder than 18C in July | neutral | neutral | neutral | low | low |
Climate | Proportion of the central Atlantic between 18-25.6C in July | neutral | neutral | low | low | high |
Climate | Proportion of the central Atlantic warmer than 25.6C in July | neutral | neutral | high | high | neutral |
Climate | Mean crossshore wind in the central Atlantic in April and May | neutral | high | neutral | low | low |
Climate | Mean alongshore wind in the central Atlantic in April and May | low | high | low | neutral | neutral |
Natural mortality | Spring condition of small (<=30.3cm) bluefish | neutral | neutral | neutral | low | neutral |
Natural mortality | Spring condition of medium (30.3-50.0cm) bluefish | neutral | neutral | neutral | high | neutral |
Natural mortality | Spring condition of large (>=50.0cm) bluefish | low | neutral | high | high | high |
Natural mortality | Fall condition of small (<=30.3cm) bluefish | neutral | neutral | neutral | high | high |
Natural mortality | Fall condition of medium (30.3-50.0cm) bluefish | neutral | neutral | neutral | high | high |
Natural mortality | Fall condition of large (>=50.0cm) bluefish | neutral | high | neutral | high | neutral |
Indicator category | Indicator | 2017 Status | 2018 Status | 2019 Status | 2020 Status | 2021 Status |
Recreational | Total recreational bluefish trips (n) | neutral | low | low | low | low |
Recreational | Proportion of recreational trips targeting bluefish | neutral | low | neutral | low | low |
Recreational | Total recreational catch (n) | neutral | low | neutral | low | low |
Recreational | Total recreational landings (lbs) | neutral | neutral | neutral | neutral | neutral |
Commercial | Commercial vessels landing bluefish (n) | neutral | low | low | low | low |
Commercial | Total commercial bluefish landings (lbs) | neutral | low | low | low | low |
Commercial | Average price of bluefish (real dollars/lb) | neutral | high | high | high | high |
Commercial | Total bluefish revenue (real dollars) | neutral | low | neutral | low | low |
Commercial | Average price of diesel fuel (real dollars/gallon) | neutral | neutral | neutral | low | neutral |
Community | Mean recreational fishing engagement in the Northeast | neutral | low | neutral | NA | NA |
Community | Mean recreational fishing engagement in the Mid Atlantic | high | neutral | neutral | NA | NA |
Community | Mean recreational fishing engagement in the Southeast | high | neutral | neutral | NA | NA |
Community | Mean recreational fishing reliance in the Northeast | neutral | high | high | NA | NA |
Community | Mean recreational fishing reliance in the Mid Atlantic | neutral | neutral | neutral | NA | NA |
Community | Mean recreational fishing reliance in the Southeast | high | neutral | low | NA | NA |
Category | Indicator | Conn Index | Conn Index per SSB | Modeled recruitment (2019) | Modeled recruits per SSB (2019) |
Climate | First day of the year when the mean temperature of the central Atlantic region is warmer than 18C | Correlation coefficient: 0.117 | Correlation coefficient: 0.1 | Correlation coefficient: -0.018 | Correlation coefficient: 0.012 |
Climate | Last day of the year when the mean temperature of the central Atlantic region is warmer than 18C | Correlation coefficient: -0.179 | Correlation coefficient: -0.152 | Correlation coefficient: -0.066 | Correlation coefficient: -0.12 |
Climate | Number of days when at least 75% of the central Atlantic region is warmer than 18C | Correlation coefficient: -0.187 | Correlation coefficient: -0.094 | Correlation coefficient: 0.021 | Correlation coefficient: -0.015 |
Climate | Proportion of the central Atlantic colder than 18C in July | Correlation coefficient: 0.182 | Correlation coefficient: 0.115 | Correlation coefficient: 0.037 | Correlation coefficient: 0.046 |
Climate | Proportion of the central Atlantic between 18-25.6C in July | Correlation coefficient: 0.193 | Correlation coefficient: 0.261 | Correlation coefficient: 0.333 | Correlation coefficient: 0.334 |
Climate | Proportion of the central Atlantic warmer than 25.6C in July | Correlation coefficient: -0.286 | Correlation coefficient: -0.324 | Correlation coefficient: -0.344 | Correlation coefficient: -0.351 |
Climate | Mean crossshore wind in the central Atlantic in April and May | Correlation coefficient: 0.088 | Correlation coefficient: -0.038 | Correlation coefficient: 0.123 | Correlation coefficient: 0.09 |
Climate | Mean alongshore wind in the central Atlantic in April and May | Correlation coefficient: -0.071 | Correlation coefficient: -0.193 | Correlation coefficient: -0.053 | Correlation coefficient: -0.053 |
Natural mortality | Spring condition of small (<=30.3cm) bluefish | Correlation coefficient: 0.162 | Correlation coefficient: 0.151 | Correlation coefficient: 0.049 | Correlation coefficient: 0.031 |
Natural mortality | Spring condition of medium (30.3-50.0cm) bluefish | Correlation coefficient: 0.335 | Correlation coefficient: 0.182 | Correlation coefficient: 0.005 | Correlation coefficient: -0.139 |
Natural mortality | Spring condition of large (>=50.0cm) bluefish | Correlation coefficient: -0.196 | Correlation coefficient: 0.209 | Correlation coefficient: -0.085 | Correlation coefficient: 0.186 |
Natural mortality | Fall condition of small (<=30.3cm) bluefish | Correlation coefficient: 0.206 | Correlation coefficient: 0.247 | Correlation coefficient: 0.103 | Correlation coefficient: 0.143 |
Natural mortality | Fall condition of medium (30.3-50.0cm) bluefish | Correlation coefficient: 0.17 | Correlation coefficient: 0.073 | Correlation coefficient: 0.253 | Correlation coefficient: 0.112 |
Natural mortality | Fall condition of large (>=50.0cm) bluefish | Correlation coefficient: 0.134 | Correlation coefficient: 0.337 | Correlation coefficient: 0.004 | Correlation coefficient: 0.259 |
Category | Indicator | Modeled SSB (2019) |
Natural mortality | Spring condition of small (<=30.3cm) bluefish | Correlation coefficient: 0.082 |
Natural mortality | Spring condition of medium (30.3-50.0cm) bluefish | Correlation coefficient: 0.274 |
Natural mortality | Spring condition of large (>=50.0cm) bluefish | Correlation coefficient: -0.348 |
Natural mortality | Fall condition of small (<=30.3cm) bluefish | Correlation coefficient: 0.011 |
Natural mortality | Fall condition of medium (30.3-50.0cm) bluefish | Correlation coefficient: 0.233 |
Natural mortality | Fall condition of large (>=50.0cm) bluefish | Correlation coefficient: -0.307 |
Natural mortality | Shortfin mako shark B/Bmsy in the North Atlantic | Correlation coefficient: 0.465 |
Category | Indicator | Recreational catch (n) | Commercial landings (lbs) |
Commercial | Average price of diesel fuel (real dollars/gallon) | Correlation coefficient: 0.616 | Correlation coefficient: 0.524 |